Italian performer Jovanotti to headline third concert of Twilight Dance Series in Santa Monica

Three weeks into its new season, the Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier will continue Thursday, July 22 with headliner Jovanotti and performances by Jace Everett and Ana Tijoux.

All Thursday night concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are free to the public.

Touted as an “Italian superstar,” musician Jovanotti (aka Lorenzo Cherubini) has filled stadiums in his native Italy and throughout Latin America. He says he has set out this summer to bring his synthesis of rap, hip-hop and rock to festivals across America.

Jovanotti’s music has transformed from its early roots in rap and hip-hop to a broader hybrid.

He has recorded 11 studio albums, the four most recent releases reaching number one on the charts in Italy. Over the past 20 years Jovanotti has collaborated with Brazil’s Daniela Mercury, Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, and recorded alongside Ben Harper, Michael Franti (Spearhead) and Bono (U2).

Everett, an Indiana-born, Texas-raised, singer/songwriter says he became enamored by both gospel music and the works of Willie Nelson in his teenage years. His upbringing in the evangelical church and his far-flung travels are apparent in his songs.

Everett’s song “Bad Things” is the “theme” song, for the opening title montage, of the HBO series True Blood.

Chilean hip-hop artist Tijoux was born in France to a French mother and a Chilean father while they were living in exile during the Pinochet dictatorship. After the return to democracy, the family moved back to Chile.

While studying literature in school, Tijoux says she began immersing herself in Santiago’s hip-hop underground.

She has developed a growing following with her jazz-inflected, ‘90s trip-hop, unusually melodic rapping and witty, politically savvy lyrics.

In addition to the concert, there will be a wine garden for the convenience of concertgoers and visitors can take advantage of the free bike valet on the south side of the pier.